Pressure roller apparatus



May 29, T. T. SOLNESS PRESSURE ROLLER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild April 30, 1947 May 29; 1951 V T. T. SOLNESS 1 ,8 5.

PRESSURE ROLLER APPARATUS Filed Apr i1 so, 194'? 2 sheets -shet 2 7 T fio n V F'IG4 Fatented May 29, 195i 2,554,885 PRESSURE ROLLER. APPARATUS Tuomo Tuisku Solness, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand, assignor to Stromberg-Carlson (Australasia) Proprietary Limited, Alexandria, near Sydney, Australia, a British company Application April 30, 1947, Serial No. 744,938 In New Zealand May 30, 1946 This invention relates to pressure roller apparatus such as is associated with washing machines and is used for expressing water from articles of clothing or the like, fed between the rollers or for ironing or pressing such articles.

Various devices and mechanisms have been proposed for effecting a quick release of pressure applied by the rollers to articles passed between them, in the event of jamming either by clothes or the like or by a hand or hands of an operator becoming accidentally caught in the rollers, but even though the release is effected, the rollers, when power driven as in the case of an electric washing machine, continue to be driven, and the danger element is not entirely removed until the rotation of the rollers ceases. This necessitates actuating mechanism separate from and independent of the pressure release mechanism.

The objects of the invention is, therefore, to provide improvements in the aforesaid type of pressure roller apparatus whereby the release of pressure applied by the rollers to an article or articles between them is efiected simultaneously with the interruption of the drive to said rollers,

and by the operation of one and the same actuating means or mechanism, and also where-v by the pressure is retained at all times on the rollers and facilitates the resetting of the latter for use.

Accordingly the invention comprises improved pressure roller apparatus including a pair of rollers having approximately parallel spindles, means for drivin the roller spindles comprising two spaced gears each mounted on a spindle and having its axis approximately coaxial with that of a roller spindle, two spaced rods, each being rockably but non-rotatably secured at its respective ends to a roller spindle and a gear spindle, a third gear normally meshing with the other two and means for rotating the third gear, a bearing block at each end of each roller spindle in which the roller spindle is journalled, a housing at each end of each roller spindle in which the bearing block is slidably located, means normally urging each bearing block towards the end of its housing adjacent to the adjacent housing so as to maintain the rollers in contact with each other and adapted to permit limited separation of the rollers without disconnecting them from the driving means, pivoted levers to which the respective bearing block housings and,

the first two gears are secured, and means for causing substantial separation of the rollers and simultaneously disconnecting the driving means 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-253) from them, comprising means for simultaneously moving the levers to which the bearing block housings are secured to separate adjacent bearing block housings and the rollers and moving the other levers to move the first two gears out of mesh with the third gear.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus at and outwardly of one end of the rollers.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the outer end of a crankshaft extension and an associated outrigger plate.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite end of the apparatus to that shown in Fig. 1, one part being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional end elevation showing the roller driving means.

Referring mainly to Fig. 1, a casing 3 comprises a cylindrical outer wall 4 surrounding the upper part of a washing machine bowl (not shown), inwardly extending upper walls or covers 5 anddepending parallel inner walls 6. The wall 4 is secured adjacent to its lower edge to the outside of the bowl of the washing machine.

A housing 1 for the drive mechanism comprises an outer wall 8, side walls 9, an upper ,wall or cover Ill and a base II. The free edges of the walls 9 abut against the outside of the wall 4. The cover I 0 extends inwardly of the free edges of the Walls 9 and ends slightly outwardly of the wall 6.

A plate l2 has a downwardly depending wall l3 and an outwardly extending flange l4, located under the cover 5.

The housing 1 and the plate l2 are supported respectively on and from the casing 3 by being detachably secured thereto, for example, by a bolt passing through holes in the covers 5 and I0 and screwed into a screw threaded hole in a boss IE on the underside of the flange l4.

Rollers I6 and I1 have resilient outer surfaces and are secured to spindles having their ends journalled respectively in bosses l8 and I9 and in associated bearing blocks.

The rollers are mounted between the walls 6 with their axes parallel and in a horizontal plane and above the bowl of the washing machine and with the outer ends of the rollers located inwardly of the wall l3.

Aplate 2|] is located symmetrically with respect to the roller axes between the walls 4 and I3 and isrig'idly secured to and spaced from the lower part'of the wall l3 by rivets 2| and 2 2.

Arms 23 and 24 are pivotally mounted on the rivets 21 and 22 respectively, between the wall l3 and the plate 28.

The arm 23 has a housing 25 on its upper end and a slot 26 formed on its lower end. The housing 25 comprisesparall'el parts 21 joined by a curved part 28, and a hollow cylindrical part29.

A hearing block 38 shaped. similarly to the end of the housing 25 is located between the parts 21 and is normally pressed against, the part filby means of a spring 31 located within the part 29 between a plug 32 and a spiget 33 integral-with the block 30. The boss l8'is also integral with the block 30.

The arm 24 has a housing 34 similar to the housing 25, on its upper endand itslowen end is slotted at 35. The slotted lower end of the arm 24 is displaced relative to the lower end of the arm 23 parallel to the roller axes and towards th o le One roller spindle, extends through the boss 18 and the block 38 and the other through the boss 19 and a bearing block 36 integral therewith and similar to the block 30] The spindles have nuts 31 on their outer ends.

A crank shaft 38 extends across the top of the bowl parallel to and beneath and medially between the roller axes. Itissupported in bearings secured for example to the lower edges of the plates 13 on the opposite sides of the washing machine bowl. At theend of the crankshaft shown in Fig. 1 the crankshaftis connected to an extension 39 by means of a pin 48 onthe shaft and a slot 4|. on the inner end of the extension.

The. extension 39 is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical bore in a boss 42 secured to or integral with the, base II and located medially, of and adjacent to the inner, edge of they latter. Axial displacement of the exten i n 39 within the boss is prevented by. meansof a set screw screwed into a hole 43in the boss so thatits. inner end engages agroove44 in theextension "A drive shaft '45 is located in a q l ndrical bore in a boss 46 depending for ashortdistance. below the floor. II and disposed medially of the housing 1 adjacent to the'wall 8.

Driving meansfor. rotating the, shaft, 45 are. connectedto its lower endandthe shaft is sur.. rounded by a sleeve 41 surrounding the. bush; 46 and extending downwards for the greater partof the length of-the shaft.

The drivingmeans may comprise gearingenclosed in a gear box 41A anddriven by. aniotor 413 (see Fig. 4).

The shaft extends into the housing 1 anda helical gear 48 is secured; on its upper end at about the level of the roller axes.

The shaft and the gear. are, supported on a floating sleeve 4,9 surrounding, the shaftbetween the underside of the gear and. the upper surface of a fixed thrust washer 58 supported on a. shallow boss 50A on the floor I I.

Similar shafts 51 havingtheir axes in the same horizontal plane andparallel. to theroller axes and symmetrically'dispos'ed inrelation to thelat ter are secured inbosses. 52 extending-inwardly from the walls 8 of the housing 1.

A sleeve 53 is ,rotatablyfmounted on each shaft 5| between a head 54 on'the latter. and the boss, 52.

Parallel arms 55 extend upwardly from each end of each sleeve 53. A helicalgear 56 'is. securedbetween each. pair of arms 55 to a spindle 51 journalled bosses on the upper endsof, the arms 55.

In the normal position of the rollers, that is when they are in contact or closely adjacent, the gears 56 mesh with the gear 48.-

The inner end of each spindle 51 has a nut secured thereon similar to the nuts 31.

An arm 59 is secured to or intergral-with each sleeve 53 and extends downwardly therefrom and isv slotted as at 60. The arms 59 are displaced relative to one another parallel to the roller axes.

An outriggerplate 6| (see also Fig. 2) is loosely mounted, by means of holes 62, on the shafts 5| between each head 54 and the inner end of the sleeves 53. The extension 39 passes loosely through a hgle at the bottom of the plate 6|. The plate is located outwardly of the boss 42.

The crankshaft 38 has formed integral therewith cranked portions 63 and 64 located respectively in the slots 26 and 35. The outer end of the extension 39 has formed integral with it and adjacent to its outer end, crank pins 65 and 66, one of which is located in one slot 69 and the other in the other slot. 60.

Normally the cranked portions, 63 and 64 of the shaft 38 and thecrank pins 65 and 66 arelocated so that the slotted lower ends of the arms 23 and 24 are furthest apart, and therefore the housings Hand 34, the blocks 30 and; 36 and the rollers l6 and 11 are closest. together. Similarly the arms 59 are furthest apart and therefore the, gears 5.6 are closest together and in mesh, with the gear 48..

Rotation of the shaft 45. isitransmittedthrou h the gears 48; and 56:.to therollers by means. of rods. 6.1. Each. end: of. eachrod. has a socket, one of which is adapted to engage a nut 31 and the other to engage the nut on the inner end of the spindle 51. Aresilientpad 31A is secured to the outer end of each nut 31.

The nutsand the corresponding sockets are hexagonal as shown or otherwise formed to ensure positive power transmission. To ensure power transmission at maximum efficiency during normal operation therods 61 are disposed so as to diverge slightly towards the gears 56 when the rollers are in contact, Consequently; each, roller spindle, its associated rod 61 and its associated gear 56, are .most nearly coaxial for normal positions of the rollers, that is, when they are slightly separatedby clothingpassing between them. The plates; land. 1.3, are. perforated as at 69 toallow the.rods .61, boss42 andlikemembers. topassthroughthem.

The arrangement shown inFig, 3. on the side of; thebowl diametrally, opposite to that shown. in, Fig. 1 is somewhat similar to' that. shown in Fig. 1.

However, thepower. transmission mechanism and itsassociated parts outwardly of.- the outer end.of,.the.crankshaft 38 are dispensed with and an .operating.handle 1.8.for rotating the crankshaft, is ,securedonthe latter.

For convenience. the numbers. on. the partsshownin. Fig. 3,'are the same asthose on the. corresponding partsshown in Fig. 1.

Rotation. of the.cranks haft.by means of its, handle rotates theaxesofthe cranked parts 63 and64.,and,the ,crank pins,65.and 66., The slotted lower, ends of the arms. 23,. and .24.. move in. oppo site directions towardsgeach other, as also do the. slotted arms 59,; Consequently thev blocks- 25- and 3 .4.,m ov,e, apart, as also do the, bearing. blocks 38: and, 36, the ,rollers 16-, and 1.1 .L and. the two sets i-.-

The gears 56 consequently move out of mesh with the gear 46 and power transmission to the rollers ceases.

To permit the rollers to move apart a short distance, for example, when clothing is bein fed between them, without stopping their rotation, the nuts and the nuts on the inner ends of the spindles 5'! are provided with slightly convex curved sides. These allow the socketed ends of the rods 67 to rock slightly on the nuts as the rollers move apart and the blocks 30 and 36 move towards the plugs 32 within the blocks 25 and 34 respectively against the springs 3|. However, transmission of power through the gearing to the rollers is not interrupted.

Although the invention has been described as applied to pressure rollers having their spindle axes in the same horizontal plane and mounted above a washing machine with the wall 4 secured to the latter, it is to be clearly understood, as indicated by the claims, that the invention is not to be so confined. The rollers may have their axes in a non-horizontal plane and may be dissociated from a washing machine, for example, when 'used for ironing or pressing. In the latter case alternative supports for the walls 5 would be provided.

I claim:

1. Improved pressure roller apparatus including a pair of rollers having approximately parallel spindles, means for driving the roller spindles comprising two spaced gears each mounted on a spindle and having its axis approximately coaxial with that of one of said roller spindles, two spaced rods, each being rockably but non-rotatably secured at its respective ends to one of said roller spindles and one of said gear spindles, a third gear normally meshing with the other two gears, means for rotating the third gear, a bearing block at each end of each roller spindle and in which the roller spindle is journalled, a housing at each end of each roller spindle and in which the bearing block is slidably located, means normally urging each bearing block towards the end of its housing adjacent to the adjacent housing so as to maintain the rollers in contact with each other and adapted to permit limited separation of the rollers Without disconnecting them from the driving means, pivoted levers to which the respective bearing block housings and the first two gears are secured, and means for causing substantial separation of the rollers and simultaneously disconnecting the driving means from them, comprising means for simultaneously moving the levers to which the bearing block housings are secured to separate adjacent bearing block housings and the rollers and moving the other levers to move the first two gears out of mesh with the third gear.

2. Improved pressure roller apparatus as in claim 1 wherein one end of each lever is slotted and the lever moving means comprise a crankshaft having oppositely disposed cranked portions engaging the respective slotted ends of the adjacent levers to which the housings are secured,

and other oppositely disposed cranked portions engaging the respective slotted ends of the levers to which the first two gears are secured, and means for rotating the crankshaft.

3. Improved pressure roller apparatus including a pair of rollers having substantially parallel spindles, a pair of levers located remotely outwardly of one end of the pair of rollers and having slotted lower ends and being pivoted respectively on axes substantially parallel to and below and equally spaced from a medial line between the rollers, means for drivin the roller spindles comprising two helical gears mounted respectively on spindles secured respectively to the upper ends of the levers and each having its axis approximately coaxial with that of a corresponding one of said roller spindles, a rod flexibly connecting each gear spindle to the corresponding roller spindle, a third helical gear, a shaft between and substantially at right angles to the spindles of the first two gears and on which the third gear is mounted, the third gear normally meshing with the first two and means for rotating the shaft of the third gear, a pair of levers located adjacent to each end of the pair of rollers and pivoted respectively on axes substantially parallel to and below and equally spaced from a medial line between the rollers, each lever adjacent to the rollers having a housing secured to its upper end and being slotted at its lower end, a bearing block slidably located in each housing and in which the roller spindle end is journalled, spring means normally urging each bearing block towards the end of its housing adjacent to the adjacent housing so as to maintain the rollers in contact, a crankshaft located substantially parallel to and below the medial line between the rollers, pairs of oppositely disposed cranked portions of the crankshaft located respectively in the slotted lower ends of the pairs of levers and means for rotating the crankshaft to displace laterally the lower ends of adjacent levers and therefore to separate the rollers and move the first two gears out of mesh with the third gear.

TUOMO TU ISKU SOLNESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 107,518 McLaughlin Sept. 20, 1870 1,016,685 Frederick Feb. 6, 1912 1,185,780 Dumond June 6, 1916 1,545,642 Eason July 14, 1925 2,056,252 Castino Oct. 6, 1936 2,327,998 Clausen Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 680,744 Germany Sept. 5, 1939 113,739 Australia Aug. 21, 1941 

